Condenser



Patented July 14, 1931 DA'VLD VJ. R. MORGAN, OF SWAE-THMORE,

r Pica PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO V/ESTING VANIA Application filed April 20,

My invention relates to surface condensers, and it has for an object to provide an improved type of surface condenser in which a portion of the cooling tubes may be inspected,

" cleaned-or repaired, while the remaining cooling tubes remain in active operation.

This application is a continuation in partv of my copending application, Serial No. 309,989, filed October 3, 1928, which in turn 1 is a continuation in part of my application, Serial No. 219,473, filed September 14:, 1927.

In the operation of surface condensers, it is necessary to periodically open the water boxes for inspection, cleaning, and repairing 15' the tubes and tube connections. lVhen it is desired to inspect some types of condensers, it is necessary to shut off the circulating water from the entire condenser unit and to stop the operation of the turbine or other apparatus or allow the latter to exhaustinto the atmosphere. i

To avoid the necessity of shutting down the turbine or the loss of power resulting by having the latter exhaust to the atmosphere,

divided water boxes have heretofore been provided for the purpose of permitting some of the tubes to be cut out of the circulation system, so that they may be cleaned or otherwise repaired while the others remain active. 0 However, such condensers have heretofore been so arranged that when one-half of the condenser is rendered inactive for cleaning purposes both one-half of the relatively small number of tubes utilized for cooling the air as well as one-half of the tubes utilized for condensing the steam are rendered inactive. Duringthis time when one-half of the .condenser is inactive the entire load will be thrown on the active side. As a result, the gases reaching the cooling portion of the tube nest will be increased in volume and at a higher temperature. With only one-half of the cooling tubes active, the result will be that the air withdrawal pumps will haye to handle relatively warm air at a relatively larger volume at the air offtake.

I have, therefore, conceived the idea of a condenser arrangement which provides for rendering inactive, for cleaning purposes,

5 one-half of the condensing tubes only, allow- CONDENSER 1930. Serial No. 448,705.

ume at the air offtalre, and to provide means, other than the active side of the tube nest in priorv condensers, for reducing the temperature and volume at the offtake duringperiods when only apart of the condensing tubes are effective. i

In the type of condenser embodying my invention, the functions of condensing the vapor and cooling the non-condensable gaseous media are divided between a group or groups of tubes, .WlllCllact'principally to condense thevapor, and a group or groups,

which act to cool the non-conde'nsable gaseous media before it passes out to the air pump.

A furtherobject of myinvention is to provide a water box arrangement and a cooling water control means whereby all of the gaseous media cooling tubes are allowed toremain in active ope-ration while each part or half of the group of condensing tubes are rendered inactive for the purpose of being clean-ed.

Apparatusembodying the features of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: a

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showinga surface condenser with water boxes and cooling Water inlets and outlets;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the inlet water box on the line IIII of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the inlet end looking along the line IIIIII of Fig. 1, showing separately detachable cover plates for each compartment of the water box; and,

Fig; 4 is a transverse half-section on the line IV-IV of the condenser shown in Fig. 1, showing the tube arrangement.

According to myinvention, a division is made in the tube nest along a substantially horizontal plane between the condensing section oftubes and the cooling section. These sections are-sub-divided vertically into first and second condensing groups, and first and second cooling groups.

The water boxes for the condenser are also divided vertically and transversely so that the flow of circulating media through the respective condensing and cooling tube groups of the condenser may be selectively controlled. In this way, it is possible to pass circulating media through both cooler groups and one of the condensing groups, while the other condensing group is rendered inactive for cleaning, thereby providing active cooling surface for gaseous media which enters the inactive side at a time when this'cooling surface is most needed.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of my invention, I show a surface condenser generally indicated at 10, comprising a shell 11, having a motive fiuid exhaust 12, a hot well 13, and a nest oftubes let disposed within the shell.

' In order to arrange my condenser for the most eficient operation while a portion of the tube nest is cut off of the circulating system for cleaning or otherwise repairing, I provide an internal condenser arrangement whereinrthe tube nest is divided longitudinally, by way of example, by a partition 15 disposed in the lower portion of the nest. This partition divides the portion of the tubes which act as condensing tubes from the portion acting to cool the non-condensable gaseous media. Preferably, the partition 15, the edges of which are in contact with the shell 11, is an arched plate having openings through which the non-condensable gaseous media will pass from the condensing section of the nest into the cooling section. These sections are further sub-divided by vertically separating both the condensing section and the cooling section into two groups. Partition 16 forms the division member between the cooling groups, and extends up into the condensing space above the partition 15 to about the center of the tube nest and divides the condensing tubes into two groups. I may provide in connection with partition 16 ejector apparatus comprising walls 17, nozzles 18, and difiusers 19 as described in my copending application, Serial No. 309,989,

filed October 3, 1928 for assisting circulation of non-condensablegaseous media from the condensing sectlon into the cooling section.

In order to make any one of these tube groups accessible for cleaning, individual cooling water connections are provided for each group. This is accomplished by dividing the water box into compartments corresponding with the respective tube groups, dividing the cooling water circulation system so that there will be an individual circuit to each group, and having in each circuit valves to control the flow through the same. To this end, an inlet water box 20 having inlet openings 21 and 22 for the incoming cooling water is disposed at one end of the shell and an outlet water box 23 having discharge openings 24C and 25 is disposed at the other end. Both water boxes, which are similar except for the position of openings 21 and 24:, are divided horizontally by arched partition 26 and vertically by partition 27 into compartments 28 and 29 corresponding with the respective groups of condensing tubes and compartments 30 and 31 corresponding with the respective groups of cooling tubes.

Valves 32 control the admission of water to the compartments 28 and 29, such water passing through the condensing tube groups and bein discharged through outlet openings 24. In like manner, the valves 33 control the admission of water through the openings 22 to the compartments 30 and 31 for passage through the cooling tubes and discharge from the outlets 25. IVhen it is desired to cut on" the cooling water to any group, the valves controlling the portion of the circulation system associated with that group are closed.

In order to allow the desired group of tubes to be inspected or cleaned, I provide separate detachable covers for each compartment of the water box which may be removed after such group is segregated from the circulation system. Covers 34, 35, 36 and 37 are provided for compartments 28, 29, 30 and 31, respectively. Like covers are provided for the respective compartments of the outlet water box. I

If it'is desired to clean one of the two groups of condensing tubes, circulation through the group to be cleaned is interrupted by closure of its valve 32, and then the covers 34 or 35 for the water box compartments of the group are either or both removed to provide desired access to the tubes. IVhile one group of condensing tubes is be ingcleaned, both groups of cooling tubes are effective to take care of the necessarily higher temperature and volume of gaseous media entering the cooling groups. After the tubes of both condensing groups are cleaned and are again in operation, the tubes of one cooling compartment and then the other are cleaned, the cleaning interval for the latter not only being relatively shorter but cooling requirements are reduced due to both condensing groups being effective. I have shown my arrangement applied to a condenser of the single-flow type, but it is obvious that it may be applied to multiplefiow types of condensers. 7

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A surface condenser comprising a shell having an inlet, a nest of tubes Within the shell, means for separating the tubes into a plurality of condensing compartments, and into a like number of cooling compartments, and means for controlling the flow of circulating media through the respective compartments.

2. A surface condenser comprising a shell having an inlet, a nest of tubes within the shell, said tube nest embodying a plurality of condensing groups and a like number of cooling groups, and means for individually con trolling the flow of circulating media through the respective groups.

3. In condenser for gaseous media, the combination of a shell structure, a nest of cooling tubes disposed Within the shell structure, water boxes disposed at the ends of the tube nest, partition means provided in one of the water boxes and dividing the latter into a plurality of compartments communicating with portions of the tube nest for condensing gaseous media and also dividing said water box into a plurality of compartments communicating with other portions of the tube nest for cooling the gaseous media, and means for independently controlling the admission of cooling media to the respective compartments or" said water box.

l. In a condenser for gaseous media, the combination of a shell structure, a nest of cooling tubes disposed within the shell structure, water boxes disposed at the ends of the tube nest, partition means provides in one of the water boxes and dividing the latter into a plurality of compartments communicating with portions of the tube nest for condensing gaseous media and also dividing said water box into a plurality of compartments communicating with other portions of the tube nest for cooling the gaseous media, and separate valves controlling the admission of Water to each of said compartments.

5. In a condenser for gaseous media, the combination of a shell structure,anest of cooling tubes disposed Within the shell structure, water boxes disposed at the ends of the tube nest, partition means provided in one of the water boxes and dividing the latter into a plurality of compartments communicating with portions of the tube nest for condensing gaseous media and also dividing said Water box into a plurality of compartments communicating with other portions of the tube nest for cooling the gaseous media, means for ad mitting cooling water to either one or both of the compartments communicating with the condensing portions of the tube nest, and means independent of the last-named means for admitting cooling Water to either one or both of the compartments communicatingwith the cooling portions of the tubenest.

6. A surface condenser embodying a shell provided with an exhaust vaporinlet and a condensate outlet, a Water boxat each end of the shell, a tube nest extending longitudinally through the shell, the tubes of said nest being so arranged that a relatively large groupcovers for the respective compartments of the water boxes formed by said partitions.

7. A surface condenser embodying ashell, a nest of tubes extending longitudinally throughthe shell,'said tube nest being divided into first and second sections, each of said sections being sub-divided into a relatively lar e group of tubes for condensing the conde'nsa ble vapors and a relatively small group of tubes for cooling the noncondensable gaseous media, a water box associated with each end of the shell, partitions in each of said water boxes for dividingthe same into compartments corresponding with the respective tube groups, removable covers for each compartment of the Water boxes, and means for individually controlling the flow of cooling Water to the compartments of one of the Water boxes.

8. A surface condenser embodying a shell having an exhaust steam inlet and a condensate outlet, a nest of tubes extending longitudinally through the shell, the tubes of said nest being divided into a condensing section and a non-condensable media cooling section, each of said sections being sub-divided into two groups, a Water box at each end of the shell, means for dividing each Water box into compartments correspond ing'to the respective tube groups for JIOVlding individual cooling Water circulation for each of said groups, means to control cooling Water circulation through each tube group, and means comprising a removable cover for each compartment of the water boxes for providing access to the tubes of any group While the other groups remain in active o eration.

9. A surface condenser embodying a shell having an exhaust vapor inlet and a condensate outlet, Water boxes provided at each end of the shell, a nest of tubes extending longitudinally through the shell, means cooperating With said tube nest to divide the latter into a plurality of condensing groups and at least one cooling group, partitions in said Water boxes for dividing each of them into compartments corresponding with the respective tube groups, means for individually controlling the circulation of cooling Water through the respective groups, and independently removable covers for the respective sections of the water boxes.

10. A surface condenser embodying a shell having an exhaust steam inlet and a condensate outlet, water boxes at each end of the shell, a nest of tubes extending longitudinally through the shell, means cooperating with said tube nest to divide the latter into an upper pair of condensing groups and a lower pair of cooling groups, partitions in said water boxes for dividing each of them a into compartments corresponding to the respective tube groups, means for individually controlling the circulation of the cooling Water through the said groups, and a separately removable cover for each compartment of the water boxes.

11. A surface condenser embodying a shell having an exhaust vapor inlet and a condensate outlet, Water boxes provided at each end of the shell, a nest of tubes extending longitudinally through the shell, substantially vertical and horizontal partitions for dividing the tubes of the nest into two upper condensing and two lower cooling groups, substantially Vertical and horizontal so partitions in said water boxes for dividing each of them into compartments corresponding to the tube groups, means for individually controlling the circulation of the. cooling water through the tube groups, and independently removable covers for said comp artments.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 29th day of April,

DAVID W. R. MORGAN. 

